How Does Endonasal Balloon Expansion (NasalRx) Fit Concussion Care?

What happens during endonasal expansion?

A small balloon is placed within the nasal passage and briefly inflated by the practitioner. The procedure applies controlled pressure internally rather than working only through contact with the skin, scalp or neck.

The aim described by Cranial Solutions is to influence restriction and movement in the nasal and craniofacial complex. The precise site and method of treatment should be explained during the consultation, including what sensations to expect.

Why does the clinic work through the nose?

The nasal region is part of the interconnected facial and cranial anatomy. The clinic uses this internal route as another dimension of its structural assessment and care, alongside cervical and other relevant mechanical findings.

The procedure does not directly measure the movement of the dura, optic nerve sheath or cerebrospinal fluid. Its internal location should not be taken as evidence that it corrects every mechanism described in a cranial model.

How does it fit an individual care plan?

Suitability depends on the history and examination. Recent head or facial trauma, surgery, bleeding risk and other medical concerns may mean treatment should be deferred or that further assessment is needed.

Discuss potential discomfort and adverse effects, alternatives and the option of no procedure. Track any response against meaningful symptoms and function, and review the plan if the intended benefit does not occur.

How do the four parts of the mechanical model fit together?

The twelve patient hubs use the same four-part framework: cranial and facial mechanics, cervical mechanics, dural relationships, and the surrounding fluid environment. At Cranial Solutions, these are connected areas of clinical interest. They are not four independent diagnoses that every person with concussion necessarily has.

Cranial and facial mechanics: the sphenoid is a central cranial-base structure with relationships to the face and orbit. The clinic looks for relevant nasal, jaw and facial mechanical findings. The term restriction describes part of that assessment; it does not establish a dislocated bone, confirm optic nerve compression or demonstrate a failure of brain fluid clearance.

Cervical mechanics: an impact may involve the neck as well as the head. The clinic considers movement, comfort and examination findings in the cervical region. The aim is to determine whether cervical care belongs in the individual plan, without assuming that every persistent symptom comes from the upper neck.

Dural relationships: the dura and its anatomical attachments are part of the rationale for considering the head and neck together. Terms such as dural tension or torsion describe the proposed mechanical model. A routine hands-on examination cannot quantify internal dural strain or establish how it affects an individual’s symptoms.

Fluid environment: blood flow, cerebrospinal fluid and clearance pathways are relevant areas of research after traumatic brain injury. The clinic’s objective is to influence the surrounding mechanical environment. Whether NasalRx directly changes CSF circulation, glymphatic clearance or meningeal lymphatic drainage requires direct measurement and further research.

How this fits the main concussion page

Cranial Solutions assesses cervical, cranial, facial and internal nasal mechanical findings. Where suitable, cervical care and NasalRx may form part of the plan. NasalRx is not an established treatment for brain injury or a substitute for appropriate medical and rehabilitation care. Individual responses vary.

An integrated plan starts with the person’s priorities and the findings that can be meaningfully addressed. A proposed explanation should help guide questions and a discussion of options, rather than become a reason to overlook another possible contributor. The practitioner should explain how the recommended care fits the wider plan and what would prompt further investigation or referral.

What should you track between appointments?

Choose a few relevant outcomes before starting care. Record the symptom, the activity it affects and what you can comfortably do. A short diary can include the time of day, triggers and duration of a change. This helps distinguish a brief response from an improvement that carries over into everyday life.

Review the goals at an agreed point. Tell the practitioner about any unwanted effects or worsening symptoms. If the expected benefit is not occurring, revisit the findings, treatment choice and whether another assessment pathway would be more useful. A symptom change alone does not prove the proposed cranial, dural or fluid mechanism.

Related patient guides

Learn how our non-surgical endonasal protocol is used to evaluate suitability for conservative management, and how cranial base structural mechanics guide an individual care plan.